his elbows as he nudged between her legs and she couldn’t help lifting her hips in pleasure and welcome, letting apprehension about the future go.
He eased barely in, then out, and an outraged cry slipped from her lips. He might have laughed, she wasn’t sure, but the next time he pressed deeper, another inch or two, before retreating. By the time he slid home, she was begging him, had one leg hooked over his and the other foot braced on the mattress so she could lift to take him as deep as he could go.
They found a rhythm that felt both amazing and familiar. And so good. She coiled tighter and tighter as he thrust harder. His eyes held hers when she broke, spasming around him, clutching him with her entire body. His teeth gritted and he let himself go, too. He bucked against her, pulsing inside her, which seemed to prolong her pleasure.
At long last he sagged, barely catching himself on his elbows, then rolled to the side, taking her with him.
Allie cuddled close, grateful for his strong arm wrapped around her. His heart slammed under her cheek, and she felt more shaken than she could ever remember being. I had no idea, she thought in astonishment.
His breathing gradually slowed. She felt the moment when he lifted his head enough to kiss the top of her head.
“We fit.” There was a smile in his voice.
The earlier giggles must have been trapped in there, because they popped out now. She clapped a hand over her mouth.
“Should I be insulted?” Nolan asked in mock indignation.
“No! No. I was just thinking...it was sublime.” A rush of shyness overcame her. “At least, it was for me.”
“Me, too.” This time his voice was deep, slow and filled with some emotion that confounded her. “I don’t think that was sex, Allie.”
“What?” She separated herself from him enough to be able to see his face.
His eyes were different now, the same dark blue but more solemn, watchful. “That was making love. I don’t think I’ve ever done it before.”
Oh, dear God. A huge, painful lump caught in her throat and she stared at him. Was he saying he loved her?
But he didn’t, the Allie who wasn’t Allie protested. He couldn’t. He didn’t really know her. No one did. But if he thought he loved her...
What do I feel?
That was the scariest realization of all, because she had a very bad feeling she wanted him to love her. She thought he was the first and only man she’d ever met whom she could love.
But could she trust him? Was she allowed ever to trust anyone?
Her skin seemed to be cooling at shocking speed and she shivered.
Nolan sighed and tucked her back in his embrace, where she couldn’t be anything but warm. He didn’t say anything else.
* * *
NOLAN HADN’T GOTTEN half an hour’s work done when he glimpsed movement out of the corner of his eye. He loosened his fingers to silence the saw.
Sean stopped in the open doorway, Cassie trying to shove past him. He said something Nolan couldn’t hear.
He lifted the ear protectors from his head and pushed up the goggles, rubbing with his forearm at the deep creases they left.
“You’re here,” Sean said. Or repeated?
Nolan had the impulse to wince, and suppressed it. “Where else would I be?” he asked mildly. He’d be fine as long as he didn’t start grinning. He wasn’t sure he’d be able to stop, not with his body feeling so replete.
“I thought... Nothing.” His face brightened. “Cassie was waiting at the door.”
The dog’s tail lashed happily at the sound of her name.
“I’m afraid she spent all day there. I’ve taken her out several times, though.”
“Oh. That’s cool. Did you let her off the leash?”
“Yeah, threw the ball for her. She was good.”
“Cool,” he said again.
Nolan waited through several twitches and the beginnings of a squirm. “You need something?”
“No, I just wanted to tell you... But it’s no biggie.” He started to retreat.
“I’m already stopped. Tell me.”
“Oh. Well, see, there’s this meeting tomorrow night. At school.” He was apparently checking for parental comprehension. Nolan nodded encouragement. “It’s about basketball. The coach wants to talk to parents of freshmen before they go out for the team.”
“What time?”
“Seven.”
“Good.” He grinned. “I’m glad you decided to try out.”
“You weren’t planning to, I don’t know, see Allie tomorrow night, were you?” Sean asked in a rush.
“No.”
“Oh. I mean, it’s okay if you can’t...”
“I said fine. We’ll talk about it over dinner.” He pulled down